Google

Google Inc. has struck a deal that could help more people find better deals on the Web. The Internet search giant bought Dealmap, a start-up that collects local bargains and discounts across the country. Google did not disclose the terms of the acquisition. But it's part of an ambitious push by Google to become a bigger player in daily deals. Google recently launched its own daily deals service called Offers. It developed the service after Groupon Inc. rejected a $6-billion takeover bid last year.

Google has announced the latest versions of its buck-the-trend Chromebook line of computers. The two Web-centric computers introduced by the Internet company are made by Samsung. They are the Chrome Series 5 550, a laptop, and the Chromebox, which is a small desktop that looks very much like Apple's Mac mini. The computers have received a hardware update over their predecessors and now boot in less than seven seconds, according to Google. The new Chromebooks are three times faster than the first set of Chromebooks released last year.

Hey, small businesses of California, Google wants to help you build a website. On Thursday the company launched a program called "California Get Your Business Online" that offers small businesses in the Golden State the opportunity to get a free customizable website, as well as access to in-person training on how to build a successful online business. Google will spring for the domain name and provide free Web hosting for the first year, then businesses will pay $2 monthly for the domain name and $4.99 monthly for Web hosting.

Tropical Storm Isaac appears to be making a beeline for New Orleans and the southern coast of Louisiana. And the National Weather service warns that by the time the storm makes landfall late Tuesday or early Wednesday, it will no longer be a tropical storm, but a Category 1 hurricane. Many across the nation are crossing their fingers that those in the projected path of the storm will stay safe. Google however, has done something more concrete: The company's crisis response team has created a map that provides information about, among other things, where the storm is headed, wind-speed probabilities, locations of and live feeds from webcams, current traffic conditions, active shelters and evacuation routes.

Generally, these haven't been good times for science fairs -- budget cuts at schools and tough family finances have meant that fewer kids get the opportunity to hypothesize, test and conclude; to beg their mom to neatly stencil their work onto a large poster display (at the last minute, for maximum dramatic effect); and, if they're lucky, to win a ribbon or trophy for their (her?) work. But this year, budding scientists around the world will get a chance to submit science projects electronically to Google's online science fair , set to take place in May. The company called for entries on Tuesday, and will accept submissions until April 4. Kids interested in the health sciences can submit projects in biology, food science or several other applicable categories.

Before Michael Chabon's novel "Telegraph Avenue" goes on sale, the Pulitzer Prize-winning author will join us for a video chat to talk about the book. Come watch the video interview Monday at 11 a.m. PST. "Telegraph Avenue" is the a story of a struggling record store -- Brokeland Records -- on the border of Oakland and Berkeley. In our review , Carolyn Kellogg writes, "' Telegraph Avenue' is so exuberant, it's as if Michael Chabon has pulled joy from the air and squeezed it into the shape of words.

Continuing a recent tradition, Google Inc. Chief Executive Eric Schmidt held court with the press Thursday at the Allen & Co. conference in Sun Valley, Idaho, where he called the current economy "the new normal." Companies need to "figure out how to be happy and get our lives together in this new configuration," Schmidt said, adding, "You can't waste money, credit is tight." Schmidt, who was joined by Google co-founder Larry Page, spoke on a variety of topics, including Apple Inc.

Think you're a Google Search power user? You might not know all the ways to get faster, more focused search results. Here are five tips: Exclude terms. If you're looking for information on Vikings, the old Norse explorers, you don't want pages on football's Minnesota Vikings. Use a minus sign to tell Google to exclude pages that contain a certain word, like this: Vikings - Minnesota . Site search. Limit your search to a single website or a specific group of sites, by using site: followed by a Web address or ending.

Google's plan to build an ultra-fast broadband service is so appealing, it defies credulity. The speed -- 1 gigabit per second -- is about 200 times faster than the fastest connections available in the U.S. today. Alas, for the vast majority of Internet users, Google's gambit is is too good to be true. The new fiber-optic lines will be deployed in only a handful of communities, reaching no more than half a million people. But the point for Google isn't to go head to head with the broadband services already offered by AT&T, Comcast and other phone and cable TV companies.

Before you pledge allegiance to one hotel search engine, you might want to run Google's new hotel finder up your flagpole. Deals are flying high. Name: Google.com/hotelfinder What it does: Provides an easy-to-use hotel search feature. It looks a lot like the one for Kayak Hotels, but with no ads. What's hot: Allows you to adjust your location search area by manipulating the Google map. So, instead of searching the entire city, you can fine-tune your search by manipulating flexible mapping lines and search just an area around a convention center, or museum, for example.